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A.R.Yngve
PARRY'S PROTOCOL
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Chapter 57
From somewhere behind the helicopter, an intensive light burned in through the side windows -- turning every smooth surface in the cabin into a miniature sun.
A moment later, the light from outside receded into a pulsating, yellowish floodlight. After an indefinite passage of time, Abram moved his hands from his eyes and peeked up. Suddenly, the shockwave hit the helicopter. A distant, immensely vibrant thunder suffused the air. The aircraft heaved forward -- the wind wailing with sudden force as it tore at the side doors. Abram and Parry were jerked forward, then recoiled as the safety belts held them in place. They had their hands behind their necks, and Abram groaned with pain as his hands slammed into the wall behind him.
The helicopter dropped, began to level off, then wavered uneasily for a few seconds before it stabilized. Parry wriggled out of his two-point belt, and hurried up to the cockpit. Joyce, wearing a cap and sunglasses, sat sweaty and trembling at the controls. She twitched when Parry entered.
"Can we make it down?" he asked nervously.
"I... think so," Joyce said; her voice was weak and slow. "Was it really an... atomic bomb that went off behind us? I'll make a full turn so we can see... okay?"
He nodded. She turned the vehicle in a wide arch. Abram entered the cockpit just in time to see what they had left behind.
They said nothing -- held their breath -- barely blinked at the sight: A few miles away, a glowing mushroom-cloud was rising up from the horizon where once Westmoreham had been. Smoke from numerous fires began to billow up from the ground, several miles away from ground zero; further out, enormous dust clouds were being stirred up from the fields. The helicopter swung back and the destruction disappeared from view; ahead of it lay the blue, distant hills and mountains, and the increasingly clouded sky.
"I just can't understand it yet," Joyce said to no one in particular. "I'll take us as far as the fuel will last, then I don't know."
"Fine," Parry answered, "but don't land near any city. We're not nearly out of danger yet."
He turned to leave -- when Joyce stretched back and grabbed his arm. He froze; tears were streaming down from under her sunglasses.
"Stay with me. Please."
They both stayed.